Director of Technical Services
17 hours ago
Phoenix
Rare opportunity to join the #1 specialty subcontractor in the Southwest as their first-ever Director of Technical Services! This role sits at the intersection of concrete science, quality leadership, and mission-critical construction. Come join a 100% employee-owned company building something big, and help shape it from the ground up as the enterprise-wide technical authority! Govig – Your #1 full-service recruiting firm, your access to the best opportunities available, is seeking a DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL SERVICES for the largest commercial subcontractor in the Southwest based in Phoenix, AZ. About the company. Founded in 1984, our client is a specialized contractor with operations across 7 western states known for quality workmanship, exceptional performance, and unparalleled client satisfaction. As an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) company, our client has built their reputation over several decades on providing outstanding solutions and the highest quality work on every project. About the position. The Director of Technical Services is a senior leadership role responsible for all concrete technology, quality control, mix design, and technical support. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in concrete materials science, ready-mix production, and quality management systems — ideally developed through progressive leadership at a major ready-mix producer or materials group — with the technical credibility and leadership presence to operate across owner, contractor, and supplier relationships at the highest level. This role requires someone who has personally developed and managed mix designs across a wide range of performance specifications and climatic conditions, led QC teams in both plant and field environments, and understands the full lifecycle of concrete from raw material sourcing through placement and testing. Key Responsibilities – Project Level • Lead all concrete quality control operations for the project’s dedicated batch plant program, including mix design development, trial batching, testing protocols, and ongoing production QC across multiple Erie Strayer batch plants., • Develop, submit, and manage all concrete mix designs required by project specifications, coordinating directly with engineering and construction teams for approval and adjustment throughout the project lifecycle., • Recruit, hire, train, and manage on-site QA/QC staff for the project, establishing clear workflows, reporting structures, and performance standards., • Oversee all field and plant testing operations (slump, air content, unit weight, temperature, cylinder fabrication, compressive strength) in compliance with project-specific requirements., • Manage ongoing concrete supply quality throughout the life of the program, including raw material sourcing, aggregate qualification, admixture optimization, supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) selection, and batch plant calibration., • Own the technical relationship with the owner representatives, third-party testing agencies, and the general contractor on all concrete quality and materials performance matters., • Develop and maintain the project-specific Quality Management Plan, including documentation, non-conformance reporting, corrective action tracking, and QBR deliverables aligned with the KPI program (Safety, Environmental, Operational Availability, QA/QC). Key Responsibilities – Enterprise Level • Serve as the company-wide technical authority on ready-mix concrete, providing guidance to project teams, estimating, preconstruction, and operations leadership across all six operating states., • Manage relationships with all external ready-mix concrete suppliers, establishing quality expectations, mix design standards, testing protocols, and performance accountability through regular QC audits and supplier scorecards., • Conduct and lead field training for operations teams on concrete placement best practices, finishing techniques, vibration standards, curing procedures, hot and cold weather concreting, and defect prevention., • Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis on active projects when concrete quality issues arise, including cracking, scaling, discoloration, low breaks, popouts, and placement failures., • Develop and maintain a library of standard mix design references, field quality checklists, supplier qualification packages, and training materials for use across all business units., • Collaborate with the Safety Department to integrate concrete-specific quality and safety protocols, including silica exposure controls, vibration training, and environmental compliance at pour operations., • Support preconstruction teams with technical input on concrete specifications, value engineering opportunities, SCM and admixture alternatives, and owner-required quality submittals., • Evaluate and recommend new concrete technologies, admixture systems, supplementary cementitious materials, low-embodied carbon concrete strategies, and production methods that improve quality, sustainability, and cost performance., • Provide technical oversight and mentorship to field-level QC personnel across all projects, building a bench of concrete-literate field leaders., • Represent the Company as a technical resource to owners, engineers, and architects during preconstruction and active project phases, reinforcing the company’s reputation as a technically driven contractor. What you need. To be a hero in this organization, the Director of Technical Service will have: • Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Materials Science, Concrete Industry Management, or a closely related field from an accredited university. Candidates with an associate’s degree and extensive progressive industry experience will be considered., • Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in concrete technology, ready-mix operations, or QA/QC management, with direct responsibility for mix design development, production quality, and technical services leadership., • Demonstrated career progression through quality control and technical services roles, ideally at a major ready-mix producer, materials group, or cement company., • Professional Engineer (P.E.) license required. ACI certifications strongly preferred (Field Testing Technician Grade I, Concrete Strength Testing Technician, Aggregate Testing Technician, and/or Concrete Construction Special Inspector)., • Deep working knowledge of ACI 301, ACI 318, ACI 211, ASTM C94, ASTM C39, ASTM C143, ASTM C231, and related concrete testing, proportioning, and specification standards., • Hands-on experience developing and managing concrete mix designs across a range of performance specifications, including high-strength, low-permeability, mass concrete, hot and cold weather mixes, flowable fill, and specialty applications., • Direct experience with admixture optimization, SCM utilization (fly ash, slag, silica fume, natural pozzolans), and raw material qualification with a practical understanding of how material variability impacts field performance., • Experience with dedicated batch plant operations, including plant commissioning, calibration, quality assurance systems, and production troubleshooting., • Proficiency with concrete batch plant control systems (Command Alkon preferred) and standard QC testing, reporting, and documentation software., • Strong leadership skills with proven ability to build, manage, and develop technical teams in both plant and field environments across multiple locations., • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; capable of presenting technical information to owners, engineers, regulatory agencies, and field trades personnel with equal effectiveness. Have we sparked your interest? Ignite your career and apply today for a confidential conversation!